PESHAWAR — Shafi Jan, Special Assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister on Information, has launched a blistering critique of the federal government, accusing it of “petty politics” and distorting facts regarding the sensitive security situation in the Tirah Valley.
Speaking on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Jan defended the provincial government’s handling of the crisis and criticized federal ministers for their “contradictory” stance on military operations and corruption.
The Tirah Valley Controversy
The friction stems from a massive displacement of residents in the Tirah Valley earlier this month.
- Conflicting Narratives: The federal government and military (ISPR) recently clarified that no fresh military operation had been ordered, describing the movement of over 11,000 families as “seasonal migration.”
- KP Government Response: CM Sohail Afridi (who took office following the 2024 elections) has countered this, insisting that residents were “forced” to evacuate due to an impending offensive and heavy snowfall.
- Funding Dispute: Shafi Jan highlighted that the KP cabinet released Rs 4 billion for the displaced persons. He slammed federal ministers for first questioning the release of funds and then alleging corruption in their utilization.
KP CM Sohail Afridi announced a province-wide jirga and a protest march towards Islamabad in response to the “forced displacement” of residents from the Tirah Valley.https://t.co/0tF9qNC12m#DialoguePakistan #CM #Afridi #Announces #Islamabad #March #Protest #Tirah pic.twitter.com/mNVaWYBvFv
— Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) February 2, 2026
Corruption Counter-Allegations
Jan dismissed the federal government’s “point-scoring” and pointed toward much larger financial scandals at the national level.
- The “Rs 5,300 Billion” Claim: Referring to a recent IMF Governance Diagnostic Report, Jan questioned why the federation is silent on the alleged Rs 5.3 trillion in corruption and “state capture” within federal departments while scrutinizing provincial resources.
- Provincial Dues: He reiterated the demand for the release of over Rs 4.7 trillion in outstanding dues owed by the Centre to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Health of Imran Khan
The CM’s aide also touched upon the growing controversy regarding the “secret” medical treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan.
- Eye Procedure: It was confirmed this week that Khan (now 74) underwent a 20-minute procedure at PIMS on January 24 for Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye.
- “Drama” Allegations: Jan accused the federal government of staging a “drama” over Khan’s health by moving him to the hospital without informing his family or personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan.
What’s Next? The “Grand Jirga”
In response to the federal government’s stance, CM Sohail Afridi has announced a Grand Jirga to be held later this week.
- Protest March: The CM has sought the public’s mandate to lead a protest march toward Islamabad to register the province’s resentment over the Tirah displacement and the federal government’s “discriminatory attitude.”
- Public Sentiment: Shafi Jan warned that the peaceful political movement would be the “final nail” in the coffin of the current federal administration.
The Grand Jirga is expected to convene following the CM’s visit to the merged districts.
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